His age:
"Wine, women and song have been replaced by prune juice, a heating pad and the Gong Show."
The Cleveland Press, May 20, 1980

Playing golf:
"I went to play golf and tried to shoot my age, but I shot my weight instead."
The Plain Dealer, August 20, 1984

Entertaining the troops:
"It all started in May of 1941. I had a radio show and someone thought it would be a good idea to do it from an Army base. This was before we were engaged in the war, but we were in a period of mobilization. The exact date was May 6, 1941, and the whole troupe went to March Field at Riverside, California and we did a show for the airmen there."

"What began as more or less a lark soon turned into an everyweek affair. For the next seven years, all but two of our shows were broadcast from the Army, Navy or Marine bases scattered across the globe."
The Plain Dealer, February 3, 1980

A boxing career that lasted three fights:
"Never forgot my last fight...a guy by the name of Happy Walsh. They called him Happy because every time you hit him he smiled. We fought at Moose Hall. I gave him my Sunday punch. He smiled. Then everything turned black."
The Plain Dealer, August 17, 1984

On his hometown:
"In 1940, after making a dent in radio and movies, I returned to Cleveland for a really big homecoming. I remember it well. How they welcomed me...flags waving, bands playing, big parades and everything. Yes sir! Lucky for me I arrived on Flag Day."
The Plain Dealer, May 4 1976

On how comedy has changed over the years:
"I don't think the basis of humor has ever changed, but the style certainly does. For instance, years ago I would tell so many jokes so fast that the audiences would have to fight for them. That style is what we call runaway; you runaway from the laughs. I now wait for the laughs."
The Plain Dealer, January 28, 1979